Linares (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

César Alfonso Ortega Díaz, Bishop
Ramón Calderón Batres, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 30 April 1962
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Monterrey
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Nuevo León
Country: México
Square Kilometers: 33,453 (12,921 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Noreste
Mailing Address: Obispado, Morelos y Antonio de Jesús Sacedón, Apartado 70, 67700 Linares, N.L., México
Telephone: (821)212-05-52

Past and Present Ordinaries

Anselmo Zarza Bernal † (24 May 1962 Appointed - 13 Jan 1966 Appointed, Bishop of León, Guanajuato)
Antonio Sahagún López † (18 Jul 1966 Appointed - 31 Oct 1973 Resigned)
Rafael Gallardo García, O.S.A. † (11 Jul 1974 Appointed - 21 May 1987 Appointed, Bishop of Tampico, Tamaulipas)
Ramón Calderón Batres (12 Feb 1988 Appointed - 19 Nov 2014 Retired)
Hilario González García (19 Nov 2014 Appointed - 21 Nov 2020 Appointed, Bishop of Saltillo, Coahuila)
César Alfonso Ortega Díaz (27 Nov 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
30 April 1962	Erected	Archdiocese of Monterrey (Mier y Noriega, Doctor Arroyo, Zaragoza, Aramberri, Galeana, Iturbide, Rayones, Hualahuises, Montemorelos, Teran, Linares, Aldamas, Doctor Coss, General Bravo, and China)	Diocese of Linares (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1965 223,100 230,000 97.0% 17 17 13,123 51 10 ap1967

1968 228,100 240,000 95.0% 20 20 11,405 52 11 ap1971

1976 280,000 305,000 91.8% 28 28 10,000 59 13 ap1977

1980 287,000 314,000 91.4% 26 26 11,038 74 13 ap1981

1990 390,000 420,000 92.9% 33 33 11,818 51 14 ap1991

1999 202,210 238,406 84.8% 35 2 37 5,465 2 45 21 ap2000

2000 202,210 238,210 84.9% 39 2 41 4,931 2 59 21 ap2001

2001 202,210 238,210 84.9% 33 2 35 5,777 2 55 21 ap2002

2002 222,431 262,031 84.9% 34 2 36 6,178 2 55 21 ap2003

2003 244,674 288,234 84.9% 37 2 39 6,273 4 55 21 ap2004

2004 269,141 317,057 84.9% 36 2 38 7,082 4 58 21 ap2005

2013 360,000 407,000 88.5% 39 3 42 8,571 3 55 22 ap2014

2016 216,000 292,000 74.0% 43 43 5,023 39 24 ap2017

2019 226,675 292,246 77.6% 43 43 5,271 34 24 ap2020

2021 248,480 303,024 82.0% 42 42 5,916 36 24 ap2022

2023 252,000 307,000 82.1% 40 40 6,300 28 24 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1965	223,100	230,000	97.0%	17		17	13,123		51	10	ap1967
1968	228,100	240,000	95.0%	20		20	11,405		52	11	ap1971
1976	280,000	305,000	91.8%	28		28	10,000		59	13	ap1977
1980	287,000	314,000	91.4%	26		26	11,038		74	13	ap1981
1990	390,000	420,000	92.9%	33		33	11,818		51	14	ap1991
1999	202,210	238,406	84.8%	35	2	37	5,465	2	45	21	ap2000
2000	202,210	238,210	84.9%	39	2	41	4,931	2	59	21	ap2001
2001	202,210	238,210	84.9%	33	2	35	5,777	2	55	21	ap2002
2002	222,431	262,031	84.9%	34	2	36	6,178	2	55	21	ap2003
2003	244,674	288,234	84.9%	37	2	39	6,273	4	55	21	ap2004
2004	269,141	317,057	84.9%	36	2	38	7,082	4	58	21	ap2005
2013	360,000	407,000	88.5%	39	3	42	8,571	3	55	22	ap2014
2016	216,000	292,000	74.0%	43		43	5,023		39	24	ap2017
2019	226,675	292,246	77.6%	43		43	5,271		34	24	ap2020
2021	248,480	303,024	82.0%	42		42	5,916		36	24	ap2022
2023	252,000	307,000	82.1%	40		40	6,300		28	24	ap2024